Northern Illinois Lightning: Welcome

Thursday, August 15

OUR WEBSITE HOST HAS CHANGED. OUR CURRENT WEBSITE CAN BE FOUND AT NORTHERNILLINOISLIGHTNING.COM. THIS WEBSITE IS NO LONGER BEING UPDATED. WE ARE AN INTERACTIVE ORGANIZATION. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AS WELL.

Being average means you are as close to the bottom as you are to the top.

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The Northern Illinois Lightning Fastpitch Softball Organization, founded in 2000, is based in the Elgin area, northwest of Chicago, Illinois. We offer competitive travel teams at the 16U, 18U, and 18 & Over levels. For further information on the Lightning, call 847-812-1522 or email northernillinoislightning@gmail.com.

Spiritwear is available to order! Great stuff at a cheap price! Get yours NOW before the next deadline.Click the left menu tab NI Lightning Spiritwear for more details!!

Mission Statement

MISSION STATEMENT

The Northern Illinois Lightning Fastpitch Softball Organization was formed in 2000 as an 18 & over team, serving primarily college-age players. In 2006, we added an 18U team and in 2007 a 16U team. In 2010 we expanded to a 14U team as well. It is our mission to build our newer teams into competitive “A” level travel ball teams that foster healthy competition in the game of softball as well as the following:

A)Our coaches are selected carefully and are required to teach the fundamentals of the game without bias.

B)We strive to provide a safe and fun environment in which to play the game of softball, one where each student-athlete in our organization as well as their parents is treated fairly and with respect. This is also something we expect in return.

C)We promise to assist players aspiring to play in college to reach that goal by exposing them to college coaches in summer tournaments as well as through our personal contacts.

D)We always keep safety as our first priority.

E)At all times our players, coaches, parents and fans are expected to act in a sportsmanlike manner and with respect to everyone involved with the game. Good sportsmanship is a cornerstone of a reputable organization and at no time will we tolerate the throwing equipment, excessive use of profanity or any other act that is deemed to be unsportsmanlike and/or unwarranted.

Our home field is at Judson University and is located in Elgin, IL. The field includes a press box, dugouts, a 200 ft. outfield fence, 4 sets of field lights, and a pitching bullpen on each outfield foul line. A full-service scoreboard stands in left field featuring # at-bat, balls, strikes, outs, total h/e, as well as home and visitor score-by-inning, hits, runs, and errors. The field currently seats 1,000.

In May of 2008, the field received a new look with grass turf upgrades and a special dirt for the infield. The special dirt for the infield will help with water and is laid atop the Illinois soil. This new dirt is only the third of its kind in the state of Illinois, as DePaul University and Northwestern University softball are the only other two softball fields to receive this dirt. Judson is the first NAIA institution to receive this kind of infield for softball.

Click Photos in the Menu box, then click Our Home Field - Judson Univ. to look at more photos!!